FAQ
- Point of Sale FAQs
- General FAQs (Free/Reduced Lunch, What’s Included with Lunch, Allergies, Catering)
Point of Sale FAQs
Food and Nutrition Services Cafeteria Account
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up a cafeteria account for my child? Every student in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District has a cafeteria account, there is nothing a parent/guardian needs to do to set up the account. Allergy information and parent restrictions appear as alerts in the system. If you want to restrict your child’s account, please email Mita Barot at barotm@tesd.net.
Is a SchoolCafé account the same as the cafeteria account? No. SchoolCafé is a 3rd party vendor added as a convenience for parents/guardians. SchoolCafé is free to sign up and offers several features at no charge, such as the Free/Reduced meal application, monitoring what your student is purchasing in the cafeteria, email low-balance notifications, and checking cafeteria balances.
How do I make a payment to my child’s cafeteria account?
The cafeteria system is a debit system, and parents are expected to maintain a positive balance in their child’s account. You may pay online via credit or debit card at www.schoolcafe.com. There is a transaction fee when using SchoolCafe; however, you can avoid it by paying by check (preferred) or in cash. Please make the check out to “TESD Caf Fund.” Place your child’s name and grade in the memo section. Payments are turned in at homeroom for elementary students and at the cashier for secondary schools.
I have children in 3 different schools within TESD, can I send in one check?
No. Please send a separate check for each student to turn in at the cafeteria of the school they attend. The cafeteria cannot enter payments for a student at a different school. If you have children at the same school you may write one check and note the distribution in the memo section of the check.
How do I sign-up for Schoolcafe? The following link explains the steps to sign up for SchoolCafe. https://www.tesd.net/Page/15624
What is a pin number and how does my child get one?
A pin numbers is unique to every student. It identifies each student's purchases in the cafeteria system. The pin number remains the same until graduation or until the student leaves the school district, whichever comes first. The pin number is emailed or mailed to every household in the school district in August of each year.
This is the first day at school. How does lunchtime work?
At lunch, students form a line, go through the cafeteria to get their lunch, and stop at the register to enter their PIN number on the PIN pad. The pin number is emailed to every household in the district before school begins. The pin number differs from the Student ID and is used only for the cafeteria. Cafeteria staff can look up your child’s pin if they forget and they will always be able to get lunch.
If my child owes money on their cafeteria account or has no money in their account, will they be able to buy breakfast and lunch?
Yes. Every student can purchase a breakfast meal or lunch meal, or both regardless of cafeteria balance. No student is refused a meal. If your child owes more than $50.00 they will not be permitted to buy ala carte items, but can still purchase a meal.
My student was refused snacks or Ala Carte items at the cafeteria. What needs to be done to correct this?
If your student has a restriction in place, imposed by a parent, that allows only meals or owes more than $50 at the cafeteria, they will not be allowed to purchase snacks or ala carte items.
How can I place or remove a restriction on the cafeteria account?
Please email Kendall Stokes at stokeskendall@tesd.net with the restriction you want to place or remove on your child’s account. Please be aware that all restrictions placed by a parent will remain in place until they are removed. A restriction placed in Elementary school will remain in effect through high school unless you email or write to request its removal.
How can I transfer money between my children's cafeteria accounts?
Please email Kendal Stokes at stokeskendall@tesd.net with the amount you want transferred from one child to another.
How do I get a refund on the cafeteria account?
Please email stokeskendall@tesd.net. Please allow 2-4 weeks for a refund check to be mailed to you. If you have a SchoolCafé account set up for Autopay, please disable Autopay before emailing for a refund. Cash refunds are not given to students at the cafeteria. Senior’s remaining balances are either transferred to siblings or refunded. If you would like to donate the remaining balance to a student of need, please email Mita Barot.
General FAQs (Free/Reduced Lunch, What’s Included with Lunch, Allergies, Catering)
How do I apply for Free/reduced meals?
The following link will take you to the procedure to follow for free and reduced meal applications. If you have received a letter in the current year (after July 1st) “NOTIFICATION OF APPROVAL FOR DIRECT CERTIFICATION”, you do not need to complete an application. https://www.tesd.net/Page/132
What is a lunch meal? What is a breakfast meal?
The link that follows will explain what is included with a lunch and breakfast meal. https://www.tesd.net/Page/7498
Where can I find an allergen and carb list for cafeteria items?
https://www.tesd.net/Page/136
My child has Celiac disease. What can they buy at lunch? Parents of students with Celiac are urged to call 610-240-1955 or email prestond@tesd.net to schedule an appointment with the Food and Nutrition Services Supervisor, Dave Preston, to discuss options and procedures for ordering a gluten-free lunch.
How do I cater an event?
Please contact your cafeteria manager and fill out a catering request form, or Pizza bingo or Ice cream social form, depending on your requirements. Please email the filled-out form to the cafeteria manager and barotm@tesd.net. Please do not convert the form to PDF, as we use it for billing purposes.